Chapter XXIII ~ An Enemy Despaired

 He had done all that he could in that given moment, under the gaze of stars that night previous. It was a dull ache of recovery during those few very sparce hours of the early morning. Surrounded by so much love, Odette — or rather — Cas had every right to put her own vision in extreme doubt. There was that lingering dread that stuck to her heart like honey. Quasimodo’s words held more merit than this horrible vision did, but her heart felt stabbed — assaulted. That was the truth of it. Odette knew it was an attempt to poison her mind. The name Quasimodo whispered in her ear was something to hold onto ~ something old and left behind. It was like a love letter, left to fly away in the wind. 

*

Magic had its way with things, in all naturalness. However, when weakness was in play, even its darker counterpart held its strength against its brighter sister. The beautiful Fae Queen had vowed to the Maidens. Odette’s despair was never to be blamed, but this was where her true home was to be found. Her true destiny in this realm… A great magic that she saw within her was yet to be ignited like a flame in the darkness. Her mind may have been currently chipped at by this harsh spell, but her fate remained intact, in Quasimodo’s. 

He was her True Home.

The only way to have it come to be was for her to be led to him, and she was. The promises she made for her since her arrival at the Seventh Hill still held strong, as no harm shall come no matter the spell cast. Odette, along with them, was enduring this grand hardship, however hope would never be lost. That diamond was a beacon that led her to her found family. Their dear Voice, the one she had brought to them was cruelly taken away, which meant their true captor was becoming increasingly angry. His life as precious as theirs was never stolen. 

Even in her grief, as she fiddled with the Diamond. She wished to spend her precious human hours with Quasimodo by her side after what they had shared with each other. He simply had an arm around her, his silence steadfast, and his eyes firm and focused on the meadow ahead, over her head. When her sisters were ready, they all came softly to sit down with them. Their Diamond Swan had chosen wisely by going to him, as they advised. Ida took her side, with Mary and Eleonor sat across from them. Quasimodo sullenness melted when his mouth parted into a half lit smile.

“Have you ladies eaten tonight?” he asked them.

There was a small cauldron by them with quite a nice little stew brewing. 

“Our minds wouldn’t let us eat well,” Mary admitted in a small voice.

Quasimodo had brought a bowl to pass for each of them. Odette waved it off as she wanted the others to eat first… but in his silence, he brought her some bread to start with. She locks her brown eyes on his, as if stunned at such a notion. A sorrow was worn on his thickened features like patched paint, but those eyes were speaking of something profoundly deep. He could see she was losing a shine in her eyes, yet he kept it to himself for now. Her grief was thick, and she knew that toll of the spell was thick over her mind. Since his first chosen touch of urgency when they first talked was still fresh to her, and so in her silence she took his great hand and snuggled her fist into his palm. She took the bread without complaint as each of her sisters shared the bowl of stew around. 

“I don’t remember, not much lately of where I was. I know it’s this curse, and I am so sorry~ I am only afraid…” she admitted. 

“This spell is reason for our coming together, and so it cannot be forever.” Eleonor spoke. “… there is no sorry.”

“Jiminy held more than we thought he did.” Ida thought aloud. 

Odette shut her eyes at the sound of his name. “He would be so angry with me right now…” Odette choked up with a hint of laughter in her voice.

“Not angry at you, this curse will end. One way or another.” Quasimodo announced with more weight in his voice. It was a sound seldom heard.

“Due to Love Undying,” Odette stated, as she gazed up into his eyes again. “… and the Fairy, I don’t why I keep believing, but…” she then gazed down at the diamond she fiddled with. Quasimodo soothed his hand over hers as he too covered the diamond as well.

“This voyage is not over.” he told her, with a boldness, and courageousness. “… and I firmly believe that the Star Fairy is as much involved in this war as we all are.” he told her, as well as all of them in this huddle. “She brought you to the Dwarfs, she brought you to Mondfall, she spared Jiminy’s village and brought him to you… And then my calling to that place, to see you… To see you change. Your dreams. My father’s juristdiction… How can all that - be not of her design?” he asked, as he overlooked all that had gone down so far. 

The diamond shimmered beneath their hands as she shrunk more into thought. The fact that even good magic could be hindered was humbling. 

“She told me I would have to endure.” Odette uttered, her heart settling on that. “We are enduring. As she is… If only - Jiminy…” Odette softened up when the diamond warmed up further, against her skin. “It feels like he’s still here,” she remarked, coming to a stilling realization. Her mind was a weapon right now, and this gathering was grounding her back. “I refuse to believe, she won’t let me refuse…” she announced, before gazing at each of their faces. “… my mind isn’t what it used to be, and I am very afraid.”

That Rosary she wore, that stayed under the brooch… She took it out, rubbing the soft smooth wood against her thumb. Witnessed by them, she rested her head against Quasimodo’s shoulder whose eyes sparkled at her words. She was in the present moment, which meant more than anything. Especially after they shared with each other… On her cloak found from that distant tower now, she gazed down at the libra Quasimodo had fashioned into it, into the end. Setting a palm into his satchel, she took out a charcoal which she had began to use to draw in the space above the knitted libra. With his eyes glistening, he watched her sketch as the girls watched with respectful resolve. It was Jiminy’s parasol… the only trinket left behind. His tearful smile, with hers, followed by the girls silent reverence for their dear friend. As she just quietly knitted after sipping some stew, Quasimodo quietly took out the carving he showed earlier. It was painted. 

She smiled up at him as she took it, so child-like in that second. 

“It’s not perfect. Slight out of practice, I find…” he was modest.

“It’s… it is perfect.” she said, her voice still weary. She wiped her eye. It was her, a little wood statue of her, in her pink gown. 

A moment of quiet had gone on before she rose her eyes up to his, soon melting into a pure silent admiration. Eleonor who previously held some animosity before softened at the moment as the others respectfully looked away for their sister needed this. Odette, in this moment of deep trust, leaned in as she closed into his gaze and softly bestowed a tender kiss. She wasn’t pressuring but he slowly pressed deeper and began to kiss softly, on her close cheek and soon to the dimple of her lip. Her heart fluttered and she snuggled into the warmth of his neck as he held her close… Her deep sigh with his settled as each of their heartbeats began to beat as one… No enemy and no spell could break this.

It was only meanwhile when Faer slowly pressed through the grass, slowly coming out to the sight of them under that tree, under the stars seeing his good friend tenderly adore and kiss her, with such gentleness that it made his little heart thrum. Although he was going to come and join but this moment looked too pure to disturb such a precious moment and chose to sit alone in the tall grass. The night was graced with fireflies glimmering through the air above the grass around them. Grumpy, with Happy, Doc and Dopey emerged from the foot of the darker woods after looking over the perimeters of the encampment. This was the calm before the storm, they each felt in their hearts. However, this nightly peace was rare ever since Mondfall. Their togetherness was still strong and still palpable as ever, no matter where their hearts were; no matter how dark it seemed to be, love would always survive. Their beloved Diamond Swan had her anchor.

They were all one, on this front. A brilliant fellowship made up of men, women and magic. It was neverending as it seemed, but this was the pinnacle, as this shadow still lingered. They could feel it in their bones as they breathed this chilled air.

*

Horns of Ebony

While the air was changing, as even the moonlight began to hold an unnatural glimmer, death was not a truth among all this change… even as the wounds were fresh. An ethereal glow had seem to sparkle and shimmer through the air towards a rocky land that remained in shadow. The Blue Fairy remained ever so on the move. This war that revolved around her beloved families was almost reaching a breaking point, no matter the magic she held, for even she grew depleted and exhausted as time wore on. The grand enemies were of equal strength and it was draining each heart and each mind they came across and she was in despair of what had befallen her Swan Maidens, and there beloved men. Their Voice had been robbed and she had to set out to find him. He could not be lost… 

Little crystals of snow began to fall among the mountains, a lingering sign of a thickening in the dark forces were no longer held at bay.  Her shimmer, weak and tired mixed with the snow as this beam of light searched the endless chasms of the Forbidden Mount. These chasms were overcome with a  sickly mist… In determination, the beautiful spectre flew down into it. She knew deeply that he had been brutally stolen from them as she could feel their anguish and grief, more than ever and more so that descended into the mist. However, a great love had been shared tonight… Love Undying. This made this risk taking search all the more important…

In vast caverns of cold stone and glimmering elements, a soft voice was trapped inside. As a great offense was committed on this night. Her heart shattered, the Heart of the Star Fairy who vowed with her life to protect these lives, and their loves. Their endurance knew no bounds, and it shattered her through that this war had forced it to be this way. Cassandra, her chosen to wear her seeing eye had been brutally assaulted, as they all were, just enough for the small gentleman to be snatched and carried away by shadow… Her guidance had brought closer to truths, but if attacks were aimed at their hearts and minds, it would bring great devastation. 

A terrorizing emerald green orb had twisted the light amidst the fog and cloud, taking chase after the star blue orb that searched ever so above the chasms of the endless dark… Sparks ignite as rumbles of thunder roll through the heavy air as both forms dive down into the dark. They darted deep into the heart of the mountain, a smack of lightning trembled the rocks, alarming the tiny prisoner inside.

*

A grand space made up of brilliant pillars of stone and obsidian looked to be as though it was meant to be a castle’s foyer, but time had eaten and eroded it. It was vast, deep and as pitch black as ebony as no eye could see and no heart could feel… Among the dead quiet of this extraordinary prison, a tiny body was held prisoner.  Jiminy lied so still after being flung in so cruelly into the space after being adrift inside a shadow for who knows how long. His hat had rolled off somewhere or it was lost, but all he had was his typical clothes, and his jacket was torn up. He came to a horrible headache, as if he had been socked into a corner. The little gentleman stirred and moaned before he weakly sat up, placing a delicate gloved hand to his brow…

“Oh - oh my stars…” he moaned before blinking his eyes weary and wide. He was covered in pure darkness. “I simply can’t - oh… ooh…” he was hurt as he tried to move, only able to move his legs closer to himself as he held himself up with both arms. He opened his eyes wide, and they were terrified as he took in where he was. He was a tiny creature amidst a vast space, too vast and too cold. He gasped and naturally pinned himself against the base of the pillar as a deep hum vibrated through the cave. Overcome, his body shivered as he crouched low to rub his face from the mere shock of it all. 

“I-I … this can’t be… The - shadow - Odette had just - oh!” he began to weep into his hands, as he slumped to his knees. 

Already, his heart was shattering at the supposed capture of each of the maidens, and the dispersing and possible murder of the Seven Men, following the Death of Quasimodo. Odette’s heart was changing, and her words felt like she had been poisoned. Her mind had been poisoned believing the horrid lie that none of what they had and formed was ever true or real.

Unbeknownst to him, there was another in this chamber with him who had to hear the poor Anointed cricket shudder~ covering his face. Losing his composure after holding strong for too long, he broke down soon burying his face into his arms, losing strength entirely. His hat rolled away from him~ for he did not care for it. He rarely would ever weep but this was the lowest he had ever felt and it became too much to bear at this point… His chest felt about ready to burst while his tiny body was wracked with sobs. The Fairy eavesdropped, hurting having to hear the sweet voice of her trusted friend break apart so deeply.

So not to frighten him, the beautiful Blue Fairy manifested with bright golden hair that graced over her shoulders approached with her wand quietly prepared beside her… 

Sir Jiminy was so often so filled with hope.

His spirit was broken.

They all loved one another so much — 

Quasimodo had vowed to Odette. 

There was still a way.

Soft, she took her hand and roofed it over her precious friend’s trembling form as he wept. He suddenly felt warmth above him and slowly, yet cautiously — he rose up…  Tears were true in his eyes and his face was twisted with sorrow, but he froze knowing that there was a hand over him. A protective one.

Jiminy slowly turned his cheek barely towards her, but something was keeping him strangely still.

“Ssh~ssh~” a Fairy comfortingly hushed, as he sobbed. “Do awake, awake… Her spell of despair shall have no hold over you.” She began, keeping her hand roofed over him. She gingerly stroked her midfinger along his back.

At the soft touch, Jiminy soon rose his gaze up before giving a quick shake of his head against it all. A great cloud darkness was cleared from his mind ~ it was the strangest feeling… It was the same as the mist he and the townsfolk had encountered. A great depression, so heavy that the despair of it felt like death of the heart. It was torture~

“I have found you - Your tears have called out to me, Sir Jiminy… At ease, my dear friend.”

“Oh! My lady- Oh, please forgive me~!” Jiminy choked, drying his eyes with merely just his gloves. “I am such a fool~! It’s just — just like how it was back ~ e-erm, back at Collodi…”

“I will tell you, all of them are sound, but a great price has been set.” she soothed her voice. A great battle had just begun.

Another sob escaped him before he finally gazed up at her. Her beauty was a brilliant, healing sight to behold. The heartbreak they shared was too much to bear for her, as he was one of her most cherished friends. Lovingly, in her caress, he closed his eyes, leaning a cheek against her finger.

“Hold true, Sir Jiminy Cricket.” she encouraged, determined and slowly angered.

“Odette’s been hurt, by that Black Swan — That-that Maleficent.… but we all know it’s only the Curse growing worse. They love each other ~” Jiminy spoke with passionate conviction. He knew the truth.

“Maleficent may have attempted to take you, to make them mute. Like you, their minds have been poisoned, not only her. A great shadow follows them tonight as I endured the magical battle against her spreading curse… Odette had a horrible vision, had been told that her journey is folly.”

“No… It isn’t — That’s not true…”

“No, it isn’t. But she is from a modern realm and the Dark Fairy had used her own memories against her, and had formed a lie with them. Odette claimed she was in a physical accident that landed her in with an injury that threw her into our world… but she was stolen through her own room mirror, you see.”

Jiminy’s eyes remained wide and tearful as he listened, a true mark of horror spreading into his heart like ink. Not even a moment later, his brow began to harden the more he listened to the Star Fairy’s words. 

“The mark is set, and there was always a way… When I came to Odette when she held the name of Cassandra, it was clear her heart was ready for what came with her theft through the scried mirror. She had to endure it, and she is ever so along with those who value her, who love her, as she is. Enduring but never alone. A great attack has been aimed at us, all of us… not only her because our enemy knows how strong we truly are. It is not over… It will not be over until this curse is shattered. Do stand, Sir Jiminy… for your Voice is treasured and they weep for you…”

As he did stand, the beauty of the golden shimmering woman glimmered and broke into a flow of dazzling dust and sparkle, that formed and twisted down… transforming into a beautiful, pure white dove. “Onto my back, my dear friend~” 

Even with his eyes still so bright with tears, in his new resolve, the brave gentleman climbed and perched onto her back. He had taken a deep breath, knowing now that this was not the end - although this witch’s massive lie had tried to make him believe it was. If it felt so true to him, he could not imagine how it was for the Flock and the men at the time he was swept. All he remembered was pure black emptiness… As if his heart had died…

On pristine wings, as the same as it was when he had first arrived in Mondfall, Jiminy closed his eyes with a heart strengthened as she took bold wing towards the roof of the caverns. With gentle hand and firm grip, he hugged around the dove as he held his hat taut with his other hand, as the fear of the wind over his small body was still overwhelming from his sudden capture. His heart wept for their found family, and quick they had to go to reunite with them. Through the dark, he rode upon her as she navigated the dark, finding a way through a thin crevice that they were small enough to fit through. She knew the enemy was moving quick now and she had to bring her friend safely back to the family, in a subtle way… She dimmed her natural light as they were finally under the stars, above the accursed clouds that tormented the land below. 

*

Claude’s pale hand stroked over his valiant steed’s snout as he settled him down with a deep love for the loyal beast. He was on guard as this night had seemed too peaceful for words at the moment, as he knew too well of how this enemy worked. That assault within the mine was proof enough that this curse was in line with the hidden Lich’s work across all of the lands. Paris’s unique fall was purposeful and hate driven… and he knew why. Being followed by such a force was excruciating as it allowed the innocent to fall under its sway like moths to a flame, and no matter how strong it seemed their hearts remained steadfast. Incredibly so, as the land had seemed to change as the hours swept by. One loss was not acceptable on this front, as that connection was crucial to the Flock’s well-being as it stood fragile and open. The attack of the mind, the heart that almost dispersed them all, further loss was no longer an option. Losing one man amidst this war only angered him more. 

From a distance from the encampment, the Flock had come closer to it by that simple tree just beyond its confinements. The moment of his son’s anchoring of the Diamond wearer did not go unnoticed by him truly, and it made his breath hitch. It was a fear he held onto however he was powerless to stop it, even though he gave fair warning to the younger man. Even though, Odette was tethered to this abusive magic, she was not to be blamed. Her guilt was as thick as molasses before she endured the brunt of the attack… There was no denying that this was the key to their current success - this was why the attack was so strong. He did not deny the fact that Maleficent was on the move.

He knew so, and so did Quasimodo. 

A time far before this one when it became apparent that he had survived the fall from the Cathedral’s gargoyle, after it had supposedly judged him to an eternal peril. All clues hinted at the discovery of the Star Tower, the ravens who nearly took Odette’s and Jiminy’s lives, and this last strike only made it more apparent of who this was coming from — Maleficent, and only her, was the orchestrator of this heinous torture. The curse was hers to start — She was the Black Swan. It was her whispers in Odette’s ears and the orb of light that attempted to steal away the dwarven leaders deeper into the mines. It all left them all in repose and almost a paralysis, each questioning if it was all real or not. 

Grumpy had come closer to the camp and he was noticed by the Magistrate, who turned silently, catching him in his peripheral. Grumpy sat, throwing his cap down at the grass as he sat upon a low stump before he began to scratch his bald head in silent stress. 

“Drawn out like poison is drawn out from a wound,” Frollo darkly stated as he brushed his horse’s flank. Grumpy’s eyes looked tensely wide, yet he held his silence. “… do tell me of their gathering yonder there, sir. Are they safe? Are they considering my asking of them to remain so?”

“Aye, they are, ‘oner.” Grumpy stated before he rubbed a hand over his eyes. 

“Is your mind sound? I know as far as I am concerned, I am not … The creature who dared attack us with its ilk in the form of light, I know that work. That one…”

“As sound as a song as far as I’s know…” Grumpy replied, expressing a rare vulnerability that was cracked open from the attack. He observed the change in the clouds coming over the mountains. “… it sure ain’t no queen we know…”

“Relay what you saw whilst under the spell.” Frollo then turned, a sullennes coming over his features as he approached the dwarf.

Grumpy winced as if a needle had been pricked into his skin but he was under obligation. “… nasty wile. Tried to stir us up, it did. I were searchin’ for them, the ladies… Found ‘em in a cave. There they were, floatin’… them beauty gone, drained to a dull grey, like death. I tried to reach ‘em, but they sank into the waters…”

Frollo kept his gaze still but his heart was icing up with each passing word.

“… and there were someone, watchin’ ‘em. Me. A tall woman, ad’ned in noble shades of black and indigo, her face a pale green… and emerald eyes.”

Frollo stepped closer, his regal hands unlatching and sweeping his cape behind him as he took careful steps towards the traumatized man. “I see no lie, it is still well with you… and you have just confirmed my suspicions of whom we are fighting against. The true caster of their affliction. The woman you saw, having claim over those dying swans was no other than Maleficent.”

Grumpy’s wide, haunted gaze remained so, but they lowered as he listened, learning of the horror had an official name, at last. 

“Your noble hand, brave miner from the Seventh Fall will not be in vain, I will vow that until my dying breath. Go and rest, good sir. As you are no use to this cause by hanging by a thread. I will provide Sentries through the hours until they take their swan forms again.”

Grumpy shook a dizzy spell as he got down from the stump, sweeping his pick into his grip again before slowly walking off. During this moment, Eleonor stood at the bank of the river, keeping her own vigil as she watched the exchange from afar. She had never seen the often strong Dwarf look so shrunk before ~ so frightened. The current vow between Quasimodo and Odette no longer was a source of intrigue but an ultimate reality. As she stood watch, a single snowflake flowed down along above the waters, towards her… Opening her palm, she caught the beautiful flake and looked at it as it melted in her hand at first contact. She let it drop off her palm as she came to a horrible thought. A wind picked up and took her hair aside as she gazed up to the distant mountains, where dark clouds were slowly inching in…